Grandmother Lizzie withdrew her gaze, turned back toward the carriage, and called out without looking back,
"Depart in an hour!"
The Rock team members responded promptly, their tense bodies visibly relaxing.
They hadn't known before — but now that they understood Lizzie could wield third-tier magic, her presence alone weighed heavily on them.
"Captain Dosari, may I examine your injuries?" Nfirea asked expectantly, lingering behind.
"Absolutely," Dosari replied after a brief pause, giving a slight nod.
Nearby, Lehr and Rand sat propped against each other, their bodies still weak from their injuries. Basque, their archer, dug into his backpack and retrieved three small vials filled with a shimmering blue liquid.
"Here," Basque said, handing each of his teammates a potion.
The three men grimaced as they swallowed the bitter liquid in one go. Watching their pained expressions, Basque could only shrug helplessly.
Recovery potions were far less effective than Healing Magic, but they could stabilize injuries and aid recovery. Given that Basque was the only one still in fighting condition, conserving his strength mattered.
His task now was to gather proof of their kills.
He moved toward the battlefield, methodically cutting off the ears of the ten fallen goblins and the two ogres. Each ear was dropped into a leather pouch on his waist — proof for the Adventurer's Guild, where they could exchange the trophies for coin.
Meanwhile, Nfirea examined Dosari's injured leg. His bright blue eyes gleamed with curiosity as he carefully inspected the calf.
"What's wrong?" Sakeer asked, noticing the thoughtful expression on Nfirea's face.
Captain Dosari, still tense, felt his heart skip a beat. After all, his future as an adventurer hinged on the recovery of his leg.
"With such a severe injury, it's surprising that the skin and muscles have almost fully recovered," Nfirea muttered. "But the bones… they're still damaged."
He raised his head, looking at Sakeer with a flicker of excitement. Without another word, Nfirea sprang to his feet and hurried toward the carriage.
"Wait for me!" he called out as he ran.
Sakeer frowned thoughtfully.
A difference between healing magic and recovery potions...
In YGGDRASIL, a game world, both methods simply restored HP. But here, the distinction seemed more pronounced.
Could there be a fundamental difference in this world?
Before long, Nfirea returned, a bundle of herbs cradled in his arms.
Seeing this, Sakeer glanced toward Lizzie, who remained seated by the carriage. She seemed unbothered, quietly sipping tea as if this entire ordeal was none of her concern.
Perhaps she viewed this unexpected situation as a valuable learning opportunity for her grandson.
Sakeer recalled Nfirea mentioning he'd studied potion-making for years but had yet to practice it firsthand. Now, with the Rock team injured, this was the perfect chance for him to test his skills.
Nfirea knelt down, carefully spreading the herbs on the ground. Selecting several leaves and stems, he crushed them between his palms.
"Pharmaceutical."
A soft green glow enveloped his hands as the herbs began to break down, their form gradually shifting into fine, granular powder.
He repeated this process several times, combining powders in precise proportions with impressive skill. The entire process took nearly ten minutes.
"Sakeer, can you help me?" Nfirea called.
"Sure," Sakeer responded without hesitation.
He had long considered pursuing a crafting profession like Pharmacist or Alchemist. Now, with an opportunity in front of him, he wouldn't let it slip away.
Following Nfirea's instructions, Sakeer grabbed a ceramic jar — previously used as a makeshift kettle — and brought it over.
"Pour the water in," Nfirea said, holding the powdered herbs carefully in his hands.
Sakeer opened his waterskin and steadily poured its contents into the jar. As the water swirled inside, Nfirea slowly added the herbal powder, ensuring it blended evenly.
"Alchemy."
Nfirea whispered the spell while gently shaking the jar. A faint glow radiated from his fingertips, seeping into the murky mixture.
Under the watchful eyes of Sakeer and the Rock team, the cloudy liquid gradually transformed into a light green, translucent potion.
"T-This is... a recovery potion!"
Captain Dosari's eyes widened in surprise, his voice filled with disbelief.
He knew that very few people outside of skilled pharmacists had ever witnessed the creation of a recovery potion firsthand.
"No," Nfirea corrected him, shaking his head firmly. "This isn't a proper recovery potion. It's just an alchemical solution with mild healing properties. Creating a true recovery potion requires a far more intricate process."
Nfirea's expression turned serious as he continued,
"Moreover, this solution deteriorates if left for too long. Not only will it lose its healing properties, but it can even become toxic. It's strictly for immediate use."
He turned back to Captain Dosari, lifting the ceramic jar with a bright smile.
"Here, Captain. Drink this — it should ease your pain and help your injuries recover a little."
Captain Dosari exchanged uneasy glances with Lehr and Rand, who were both watching closely from the side.
Their breathing quickened slightly, and their faces tensed — a mix of pain on their wallet washing over them.
If I'd known this was coming, I wouldn't have forced down that recovery potion earlier...
Still, Dosari accepted the jar and took a cautious sip.
Nfirea didn't stop there. He prepared two more portions of the alchemical solution and handed them to the injured Rand brothers.
By the time he finished, Nfirea's face was noticeably pale, and fatigue was written all over him. It was clear that making three portions had drained him significantly.
"What's wrong, Sakeer?"
Nfirea, wiping sweat from his brow with his rolled-up sleeve, noticed Sakeer standing nearby in a daze.
Sakeer's gaze was locked on his attribute panel, where something unexpected had occurred.
The two skills Nfirea had demonstrated — Pharmaceutical and Alchemy — had triggered a reaction in Sakeer's interface.
Curious, Sakeer spent two skill points to unlock both abilities. Immediately, his attribute panel updated:
[Attribute Panel]
Player: Sakeer
Justice Value: 0 [Neutral]
HP: 53 (4%)
MP: 13 (1%)
Physical Attack: 53 (4%)
Physical Defense: 13 (1%)
Dexterity: 53 (4%)
Magical Attack: 13 (1%)
Magical Defense: 13 (1%)
Combined Resistance: 0 (0%)
Particularity: 0 (0%)
Total: 16%
[Ability Panel]
Innate Ability: [Player]
Overall Level: Lv5
Experience Slot: 100/400
Class:
Basic Class: Genius Lv1 (Warrior, Priest, Apothecary, Alchemist)Intermediate Class: Sword Master Lv4
Skill Points: 7
Passive Skills:
Item BoxSlash Increase (4%)
Active Skills:
Warrior: Instant Reflex, Four Lights Combo, Quick SlashMagic: Minor Injury Heal (1st Tier)Professions: Pharmaceutical, Alchemy
Thanks to the experience gained from recent battles — especially the ogre he'd slain — Sakeer's level had increased by three. His current overall level now stood at Level 5.
(End of chapter)